Ohio State fan favorite Jonathon Cooper is expected to miss his first NFL minicamp with the Denver Broncos due to a procedure that will address an irregular heartbeat. It is believed to be a minimally invasive surgery that will only keep the defensive end out a few weeks.
The irregularity was found when Cooper was in high school where he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Coop underwent two procedures then and has still been able to play at a high level.
Cooper talked with Mike Klis of NBC’s Denver 9 News and told the reporter that he believes the condition affected his draft stock. Coop was drafted in the 7th round by the Broncos just last week.
Former #OhioState defensive end Jonathon Cooper will miss Denver Broncos minicamp to have a heart procedure (FREE)https://t.co/t9VOikS0BR pic.twitter.com/NFaBE4Y59e
— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) May 8, 2021
Missing time in rookie camp isn’t ideal for any player, but Cooper’s health is top priority. The Broncos were well aware of the condition before drafting the Buckeye pass rusher, as the NFL requested an EKG days before the draft with results sent to all 32 NFL teams.
Clearly, Cooper has been able to play at a high level with the condition for the past eight years. Denver witnessed that and got a player in the last round that probably should’ve gone much sooner.
Cooper’s work ethic and passion for the game is what made him a fan favorite in Columbus. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery, so Denver fans can get a taste of what the Buckeye Nation has known for a while now.
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